Does previous abdominal surgery increase postoperative complication rates in continuous ambulatory peritoneal...

This study was to compare the postoperative complication rates of continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) catheter insertion via open technique between two groups of patients, those with and those without a history of previous abdominal surgery.

A review was carried out in 122 patients over a 2-year period. The patients were divided into two groups: those with and those without previous lower abdominal surgery. All patient records were retrospectively analyzed until the time of catheter failure or to current time if alive and receiving CAPD. Patient characteristics, operative factors, and postoperative complications were recorded.

Postoperative complications were reported as catheter malfunction in 16 patients and CAPD-related peritonitis in 36 patients. The complication rates in the group of patients with previous abdominal surgery were 16.7% catheter malfunction and 33.3% CAPD-related peritonitis. In patients without previous lower abdominal surgery, a catheter malfunction rate of 12.5% and a peritonitis rate of 28.8% were seen. The operation time in patients with previous abdominal surgery was longer than that in patients without previous abdominal surgery. However, no statistically significant difference in postoperative complication rates was detected between patients with and patients without previous lower abdominal surgery.

CAPD remains a reliable modality in the treatment of end-stage renal disease and does not increase postoperative complications in patients with previous abdominal surgery.